The parents of the boy who was killed by an alligator are speaking out

Lane Graves.Twitter/Orange County SheriffThe parents of the Nebraska toddler who was killed in terrifying alligator attack have broken their public silence.

Matt and Melissa Graves of Elkhorn, Nebraska, released a statement through the Orange County Sheriff's Office yesterday, ABC News reports. It read:

"Words cannot describe the shock and grief our family is experiencing over the loss of our son. We are devastated and ask for privacy during this extremely difficult time. To all of the local authorities and staff who worked tirelessly these past 24 hours, we express our deepest gratitude."

The couple's 2-year-old son, Lane, was killed on Tuesday when an alligator dragged him into a lake at a Walt Disney World property in Orlando, Florida. The family had been watching an outdoor movie on the beach at the Grand Floridian resort when the boy waded into the water and was grabbed by the alligator, CNN reports. The boy's family and other witnesses attempted to save him but were not successful.